lagued and harassed night and day
with his wife's reproaches, he made an end of his fervent love, having
given much cause for laughter to his companions, no less than to
Niccolosa and Filippo."

THE SIXTH STORY

[Day the Ninth]

TWO YOUNG GENTLEMEN LODGE THE NIGHT WITH AN INNKEEPER,
WHEREOF ONE GOETH TO LIE WITH THE HOST'S DAUGHTER, WHILST
HIS WIFE UNWITTINGLY COUCHETH WITH THE OTHER; AFTER WHICH HE
WHO LAY WITH THE GIRL GETTETH HIM TO BED WITH HER FATHER AND
TELLETH HIM ALL, THINKING TO BESPEAK HIS COMRADE.
THEREWITHAL THEY COME TO WORDS, BUT THE WIFE, PERCEIVING HER
MISTAKE, ENTERETH HER DAUGHTER'S BED AND THENCE WITH CERTAIN
WORDS APPEASETH EVERYTHING

Calandrino, who had otherwhiles afforded the company matter for
laughter, made them laugh this time also, and whenas the ladies had
left devising of his fashions, the queen bade Pamfilo tell, whereupon
quoth he, "Laudable ladies, the name of Niccolosa, Calandrino's
mistress, hath brought me back to mind a story of another Niccolosa,
which it pleaseth me to tell you, for that therein you shall see how a
goodwife's ready wit did away a great scandal.

In the plain of Mugnone there was not long since a good man who gave
wayfarers to eat and drink for their money, and although he was poor
and had but a small house, he bytimes at a pinch gave, not every one,
but sundry acquaintances, a night's lodging. He had a wife, a very
handsome woman, by whom he had two children, whereof one was a fine
buxom lass of some fifteen or sixteen years of age, who was not yet
married, and the other a little child, not yet a year old, whom his
mother herself suckled. Now a young gentleman of our city, a sprightly
and pleasant youth, who was often in those parts, had cast his eyes on
the girl and loved her ardently; and she, who gloried greatly in being
beloved of a youth of his quality, whilst studying with pleasing
fashions to maintain him in her love, became no less enamoured of him,
and more than once, by mutual accord, this their love had had the
desired effect, but that Pinuccio (for such was the young man's name)
feared to bring reproach upon his mistress and himself. However, his
ardour waxing from day to day, he could no longer master his desire to
foregather with her and bethought himself to find a means of
harbouring with her father, doubting not, from his acquaintance with
the ordinance of the latter's house, but he might in tha